Sitting out last season allowed red-shirt freshman Kris Moorman to observe the chemistry of the team and taught him to understand what it takes to be a Buckeye. After a year of adjustment, the outfielder from St. Henry, Ohio, still is learning from the dugout, but he also is learning in limited action on the field. His positive attitude and commitment to the team will allow him to accomplish his personal goals, while being a great asset to the team for this year and the next three.

How old were you when you began playing baseball? “I began playing baseball when I was 5 for a tee-ball team called the Indians. I remember being so excited when I got my first uniform. My mom took a picture of me the first time I tried it on. I actually had the picture framed for my parents last Christmas. It’s fun to look at the picture and see how happy I was the first time I picked up a bat and ball.”

What baseball team did you follow as a child? “The Indians were my favorite (Major League) team, but since I grew up in Columbus I was a huge fan of the Columbus Clippers. My dad would take me to games and one year I was fortunate enough to have my birthday party at a game. The Clippers were the team I followed the most.”

Who inspired you to become a baseball player? “Definitely my parents. Usually it is just a father and son activity, but my mom always was out in the backyard pitching to me. As I got older though, my dad had to take over, because I started hitting too hard. When I played Little League, our team didn’t have practices, so my dad would always take me out to the batting cages before the games until I was able to get some good reps. I think in the long run that is what really helped me out.”

Why did you choose to come to Ohio State? “I have always wanted to come to Ohio State. It has been my dream since I was a little kid. I transferred to St. Henry high school my junior year and that is when I began to become really serious about what college I wanted to attend. During the winter season we would have indoor practices and everyday I would see a poster we had hanging up of the Ohio State baseball schedule and field and I remember being so inspired and telling myself I was going to go there. The most exciting moment in my life was getting that phone call from Ohio State saying they were interested in me.” What were your feelings when you stepped out onto the field for the first time? “The first time I stepped into the batter’s box was this year against Texas. I was playing in a professional baseball field (Minute Maid Park) against a ranked team, so the moment could not have been any better. I just stepped out there and soaked in every minute of it.”

What is the most difficult aspect of being a baseball player? “Managing the time between baseball and school. It is really important that you always keep time for school work. It is also really important to keep a positive attitude about both school and baseball, because if you have a negative attitude about one it will affect the other. It was tough to manage my freshman year, but now it has pretty much become routine. It gets easier every year.”

What are your goals for the rest of the season? “I wrote my personal and team goals down for this year on a bulletin board in my bedroom. I always remind myself of them everyday to keep inspired. I have always wanted to win a Big Ten championship. I have never won a league championship in any sport I have ever played, so coming to Ohio State gave me high hopes of winning a championship. We definitely have the talent this year, so it’s just about applying ourselves.”

Who do you think is going to be the toughest opponent in the Big Ten this season? “Every weekend we go in and play a Big Ten team, it’s a challenge. It can make the difference between a position in first or third place. Every team we play, we take seriously. I take every game as if it’s the biggest game. I also try to just take one game at a time and hope to end up in first place at the end of the season.”

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? “I love music. I grew up listening to my parents classic rock albums, so it got me into music at an early age. I have been playing the drums since I was in sixth grade. In seventh grade, I began playing the piano and recently I picked up the guitar. So, when I have spare time I like to relax and play instruments.”

What are your plans after your baseball career? “I would love to play baseball for the rest of my life, or at least that is one of my goals. I would also like to graduate in three or four years. I am undecided about my major right now, but I’m considering business or communications.”

If you could play another position what would it be? “I pitched in high school, but I definitely wouldn’t have the tools to do it on a collegiate level. I think I would probably play outfield. I had a chance to play this summer and I really liked it. I really enjoy being anywhere on the field. I just love baseball.”

What is the best thing about playing college baseball? “At Ohio State the best thing is the atmosphere. It is unbelievable. My teammates are my best friends. It is great to come out onto the field everyday and hang out with the people that are closest to you. Having fun on the field everyday is the greatest thing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Describe yourself as a baseball player? “I am a dedicated player. As far as practice goes, I treat each one as though it were a game. I always stay focused, but I also make sure that I am having fun. Once you are able to combine both of them successfully, you can have a good game. Having fun is important, but you also have to be serious. I try and notice things on the field that other players may not and I think that is what is making me better everyday.”